Apple Explores A.I. Deals With News Publishers
Apple has opened negotiations with major news and publishing organizations to use their material in the development of generative artificial intelligence systems.
How It Began
Apple has recently started negotiations with major news and publishing organizations. The company is seeking permission to use their material in the development of generative artificial intelligence systems, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Apple has floated multiyear deals worth at least $50 million to license the archives of news articles. The news organizations contacted by Apple include Condé Nast, NBC News, and IAC.
The negotiations mark one of the earliest examples of Apple's effort to catch up to rivals in the race to develop generative A.I., a technology that allows computers to create images and chat like a human.
Key Figures in the Field
Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Meta, and other companies have already released chatbots and products built with generative A.I. This technology has the potential to change the way people work and generate billions of dollars in sales.
On the other hand, Apple has been absent from public discussions on A.I. Siri, Apple's virtual assistant, has remained largely stagnant since its release a decade ago.
While Apple declined to comment on the negotiations, CEO Tim Cook mentioned during a recent call with analysts that the company has ongoing work related to A.I.
One Year of ChatGPT
Apple's approach to A.I. deals with news publishers comes after competitors like OpenAI have faced criticism for using publishers' content without permission to train generative models.
Apple has been debating how to accumulate the required data for building generative A.I. products. The company has been cautious about taking information from the internet due to privacy concerns.
News executives have raised concerns about generative A.I. products attracting readers who would normally consume news on platforms exclusive to subscribers and advertisers. Print news organizations, in particular, are wary of striking deals with A.I. companies to protect their existing businesses.
